Matthews looks back at another successful season

The boys tennis program as Tippecanoe is one of the most respected and consistent programs in this area. Every year, the Red Devils display strong play and quite honestly have never been challenged in the Miami Valley League (MVL). They ran their league record to 35-0 all-time with four MVL titles and have dominated the sectional tournament held at Troy every spring.

This year was much of the same. They rolled through league play, won all five championships in the league tournament, and sent all seven players into the districts.

“We went 15-5 this season and it is one of the best records we have had in a while with the schedule that we had,” Tipp coach Maci Matthews said. “We were a deep, close-knit team, and I think that helps with team chemistry, both on and off the court. They are just hard workers.”

“We had a lot of talent and are graduating a lot of talent from the JV to the varsity team. The seniors have left the knowledge of what it takes to be a top player, and have shown what you must do and have been great leaders for us.”

Nick Von Krosigk played his first singles this year as a sophomore, and Matthews knows great things are in his future.

“He was a great leader for us and handled playing the best-of-the-best very well,” Matthews said. “It was a tough schedule, and he beat some really good dominant players.” The Tipp coach also noted Von Krosigk is currently 11th on the Watch List in Ohio in boys tennis. His record this season at both singles and doubles matches in the tournament was 28-5. According to Matthews, he is also on track in the future to break the 100-win plateau.

According to Matthews, Cam Davis and Grant Vonderheide were also two more players who put together incredible seasons.

“Cam and Grant were two-year captains for us, and both of them set records,” Matthews said. Davis recently broke the 100-win plateau at Tipp, the first time it has been done in school history, while Vonderheide and Roman List are second in school history in single-season wins for a doubles team with 24.

Alex Darner was the player who caught everyone’s attention as a big sleeper, working his way to MVL Third Singles championship and the district tournament.

The first doubles team of Vonderheide and List rolled through their competition this season, and it carried over to the postseason.

“They had an incredible season, and what they were able to accomplish is incredible,” Matthews said, as they finished 24-9 on the season. “They are great leaders and people. The second doubles team of Deacon Blake and Ty Hoover, who moved up from Varsity B as a doubles team last year.

“They translated into this year and worked hard into this season,” Matthews said. They were 19-9 overall, and both qualified in singles for districts.